Since many Los Angeles fans were still celebrating the Lakers' 16th NBA Championship, it’s likely they missed the 2010 NBA Draft because going to the club seems to be more fun than waiting until the 43rd pick to see their team make a pick.

Think again, Ron Artest and his gajillion family members!

The purple and gold appear to have their hardest decisions still in front of them, but fans should take a look at the value Los Angeles was able to get with two late second rounders:

But let’s get to know these two youngsters. While they aren’t guaranteed an opportunity to play with Kobe and Co., the Lakers have given many second round selections contracts in the past (Walton, Turiaf, Yue, etc.), so they could be sitting on the bench next year.

Would I Have Drafted Ebanks?

The short answer is yes.

The long answer is kind of.

Why? Because while it’s true the Lakers can always use defensive help, that player needs to be able to stretch the floor. Throughout the playoffs, so much was made about Artest’s inability to shoot threes and how it hurt Los Angeles.

Oops. They essentially cloned that inability in Ebanks.

He made 10 percent of his three pointers last season, and even Pau Gasol shoots better than that from deep. His mid-range game may be decent, but with Kobe, Pau and others clogging the lane, he needs to learn to fire from further out.

Or he can kiss that contract good-bye and join Adam Morrison as a free agent.

My pick probably would have been a three-point specialist. Outside of Sasha “Shoot First and Ask Questions Later” Vujacic, the Lakers have no one who consistently hits from three. With a spot-up shooter, they can prevent opposing defenses from collapsing.

Also, they need someone with a funny celebration technique. I’m a big fan of the J.R. Smith handicapped dinosaur walk.

What Was the Worst Case Scenario?

Because contracts after the 30th pick are not guaranteed, the Lakers were wise to save their money and keep out of the first round.

Plus, their first rounder this year helped them get the Big Spaniard in the biggest steal since the Gadsden Purchase.

Sure, Ebanks will get a chance to prove himself, but so would anyone. As long as the Lakers didn’t tie up their already short financial resources in any high price ventures (Eddy Curry, anyone?), they couldn’t have messed this pick up.

Well unless they picked Dexter Pittman. Who knew Oprah and Jabba the Hutt could have a son?

What Was the Best Case Scenario?

This is probably as close to the best decision the Lakers could have made.

Aside from picking a Northwestern graduate. Because they are so studly.

Ignoring my personal opinions, the Lakers stuck to what won them a title: defense. Ebanks needs a little bulk to be a solid defender, but so does everyone in the draft.

Also, and more importantly, they didn’t make any drastic moves. No reason to blow up a champion like the Florida Marlins did.

Twice.

Showing a commitment to defense can prove to Phil Jackson that the Lakers are focused on improving what worked so well before. If this kind of mindset eases Jackson’s mind, Mitch Kupchak and Co. could have drafted literally anyone, as long as it brought back the Zen.

Well, maybe except for Lastings Milledge. He might as well be Stevie Wonder on defense.

My Draft Grade: A-, or F

There’s a reason I put two grades for Ebanks.

And it’s not because I’m dyslexic.

If the former All-Big East Rookie team member makes the Lakers, I feel he can play some quality minutes and develop into a role player. Hard-nosed defenders are hard to come by, and at 6’9” and rangy, he has the length to pester the likes of LeBron James.

Okay, that’s a long way off.

But the reason I also give the pick an F is because if he doesn’t make it, all Ebanks has to show for yesterday is a sad story:

His son: Dad, who drafted you?

Him: The Lakers, it was awesome!

His son: Cool! You got to play with Kobe?

Him: Ummm, no. I never made the roster.

His son: Oh. Well I’m gonna go…

I know he got his hopes up, and that’s why I‘d hate to see them crushed. Plus, he sounded so sincere in his interviews, so I don’t want to see him miss out.

With the 58th Pick, the Lakers Select Derrick Caracter.

It’s strange how different two people who are 6’9” can be. Ebanks is a lanky and rangy small forward, while Caracter is one the burliest guys you’ll see playing hoops.

And luckily for him, he doesn’t have a stupid nickname like Big Baby.

However, Caracter can ball, and has a similar game to Glen Davis. He’s known for his solid footwork, good post moves and agility, something the Boston forward abused Lamar Odom with repeatedly in the Finals.

And I’m using abused lightly. If this were Black Snake Moan, Davis was Sam Jackson, and Lamar Odom was Christina Ricci.

With only two collegiate seasons under his belt, Caracter proved his worth to the Lakers brass. He threw around his 275-pound frame to the tune of 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game and 56.7 percent from the field, earning him second-team All-Conference USA honors.

The Lakers’ length has always been their strength. But Caracter’s motor and wide-frame can help make him a rebounding machine and compensate for his lack of length.

What Was the Worst Case Scenario?

The short and long answer are the same for Caracter:

He is the worst case scenario.

I always like second round picks who get a chance to showcase their stuff in the summer league. The Lakers have roster slots available for bigs, especially if they don’t bring back Josh Powell and D.J. Mbenga to serve as backups.

But Caracter’s weight problems pose a serious problem. If he can’t get his size below that of a baby mastodon, he’s not helpful to the three-peat.

Los Angeles doesn’t need another athlete in a sports bra. LenDale White played here for quite long enough, thank you very much.

If the Lakers were set on going big, they should have gone for a change of pace, freakish hustle kind of guy. Another slow behemoth down low doesn’t diversify their options, so the pick seems like a waste.

And even Wu-Tang financial can tell you that you need to diversify your options.

My Draft Grade: D+

If you couldn’t tell by now what I think of Caracter, this picture says it all:

Matt Howard out-jumped him.

Enough said.

His ceiling is so low unless he turns into a complete anomaly. Yes, there have been great players drafted in the second round, but none have had as many issues as this young fella.

What I hope is that he realizes he has the opportunity to get rings early, and decides to rededicate himself to the game. Get in the gym, work out regularly, play hard in the summer league, and try tirelessly for a roster spot.

He seems to be one of those guys who needs a reality check. He can ride his college career for only so long until he hits the wall of the real world. For his sake, I hope he is ready.

Otherwise, that wall is going hurt more than a Glen Davis punch to the face.